Front Porch

Front Porch

Article excerpt

Faithful readers will remember that we celebrated Southern Cultures's twentieth birthday last year. It was a banner year, full of exciting programs, special issues, and happy memories. But you cant cheat time; age brings its changes, large and small, and we are no exception. This issue brings a bittersweet moment of changing leadership as Jocelyn Neal steps down as my co-editor, and Marcie Cohen Ferris comes forward in her place. The change is bittersweet because we hate to see Jocelyn move on, but we are delighted to welcome Marcie. And using a flavor to describe our feelings is a perfect metaphor, for this is our special issue on southern food, in all its mouth-watering complexity.

Jocelyn Neal joined Southern Cultures in 2009 and has been an unending source of insight, inspiration, and intelligence ever since. A professor of music at UNC, with an adjunct appointment in American Studies, her specialty is country music, and she has brought whole festivals' worth of knowledge about every branch of southern rhythms and melodies as a referee, contributor, and editor. Her contributions to our regular music issues have been invaluable, and we rejoice that she will still be available to advise us on all things tuneful. After five years of service, Jocelyn is ready for different challenges, and we wish her well, relieved to know she is only a holler away. …